Government pledges $32 million extra for rural health

11.50am

The Government will commit an extra $32 million over the next three years to keeping health professionals in rural areas.

Health Minister Annette King, announcing the package, said the extra money was for a primary health care premium recommended by the Rural Expert Advisory Group.

The premium would work through incentive payments to GPs, nurses and other health workers, as well as extra money to ensure sufficient numbers of staff are on call.

The amount of the premium would depend on how isolated an area was; Matamata would receive $8900 this year for a practice population of 1200 people while Reefton would get $22,500 for the same number.

"This package is important not only to reassure rural communities and to recognise doctors, nurses and other health workers who serve them but also to underline our commitment to primary health care as the way forward for all New Zealanders," Ms King said in a statement.

The measures were the first elements of a more comprehensive rural health package still being developed, she said.

Yesterday, the National Party announced it would commit $15m over three years to rural health, $6m of which was aimed at attracting and keeping rural GPs.

- NZPA